Introducción

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The Life of Captain Matthew Flinders R.N.
Project
Gutenberg Australia
a treasure-trove of literature
treasure found hidden with no evidence of ownership
The Life of Captain Matthew Flinders R.N.
by
Ernest Scott
PROFESSOR OF HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
AUTHOR OF -TERRE NAPOLEON- AND -LIFE OF LAPEROUSE-
WITH PORTRAITS, MAPS, AND FACSIMILES.
SYDNEY
ANGUS & ROBERTSON LTD.
89 CASTLEREAGH STREET
1914.
PORTRAIT OF MATTHEW FLINDERS, AGED 27
PREFACE.
The subject of this book died one hundred years ago. Within
his forty years of life, he discovered a very large area of what
is now an important region of the earth; he participated in
stirring events which are memorable in modern history; he applied
a vigorous and original mind to the advancement of knowledge,
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with useful results; and he was the victim of circumstances
which, however stated, were peculiarly unfortunate, and must
evoke the sympathy of everyone who takes the trouble to
understand them. His career was crowded with adventures: war,
perilous voyages, explorations of unknown coasts, encounters with
savages, shipwreck and imprisonment are the elements which go to
make up his story. He was, withal, a downright Englishman of
exceptionally high character, proud of his service and unsparing
of himself in the pursuit of his duty.
Yet up to this time his biography has not been written. There
are, it is true, outlines of his career in various works of
reference, notably that contributed by Sir J.K. Laughton to the
Dictionary of National Biography. But there is no book to which a
reader can turn for a fairly full account of his achievements,
and an estimate of his personality. Of all discoverers of leading
rank Matthew Flinders is the only one about whom there is no
ample and convenient record.
This book endeavours to fill the gap.
The material upon which it is founded is set forth in the
footnotes and the bibliography. Here the author takes pleasure i...